Chapter 6: Overtime Temptations

06

Another week passed.

As expected, Ethan messaged me again.

[Where this weekend?]

Me: [A friend’s getting married, I have to be a groomsman in another city.]

Ethan: [No free time at all?]

Really that desperate?

Me: [Yeah, just the round trip will take seven or eight hours.]

Truth is, there’s no wedding.

I’m just scared.

Two weeks of abstinence is rough.

On Saturday, I used some toys at home.

They helped, but not much.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan.

The more I thought, the hotter I got.

To cool off, I took a cab to the office to work overtime.

Making money soothes the soul.

But the moment I swiped my card to get in, my heart shattered.

Help, the universe is out to get me.

Why was Ethan working overtime too?

He came out of the break room with a cup of coffee, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Nearby city? Groomsman?”

I forced a laugh. “The wedding got canceled last minute.”

Ethan was so annoyed he laughed. “Ryan, you’re avoiding me.”

I tried to play it cool, but my voice cracked on the word "wedding." Ethan’s half-smirk made it clear he didn’t buy my story for a second. I could feel the caffeine-fueled tension between us, humming like a broken vending machine in the break room.